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Induction loop system installed

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Induction Loop System

We are delighted to announce that an induction ‘loop’ system, which amplifies sound for users of hearing aids, has been installed within St. Olaf’s. We are grateful to Orkney Television Enterprise for providing and installing the equipment at what proved to be a most attractive cost.

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bulletLiving a Parable

You may recall reading in an earlier update of our fund-raising initiative inspired by Jesus’s Parable of the Talents. Twenty-two members of the congregation were each given the sum of £10 from church funds and asked to seek to use it in an imaginative way so as to multiply the original sum.

The response was overwhelming with the result that over £1,000 was raised. Deducting the original ‘stake’ of £220 the net gain is £910.

Due to the fact that some of the participants are too modest to be identified (together with their money-making schemes) it is not possible to name the individuals involved. However, we remain extremely grateful for their efforts and dedication to the service of the Church.

As a footnote, it is worth mentioning that whilst the scheme was designed to increase church funds, one member whose £10 stake was transformed into £200, donated half of that sum to the Bangladesh Flood Appeal – a gesture that was truly in keeping with the spirit of Jesus’s original teaching.

The Vestry extends its heartfelt gratitude to all involved. Well done!

bulletEnhancing our Worship

Having juggled for a number of years between two hymn books (The English Hymnal and New Hymns and Worship Songs ) it was decided to purchase new hymn books.

At the same time, ideas were being mooted as to purchasing ‘pew Bibles’ so as to enable worshippers to follow the Common Worship Lectionary readings.

The answer to both matters came in the form of Hymns Old and New  - One Church One Faith One Lord  published by Kevin Mayhew Ltd (http://www.kevinmayhew.com/). Not only does the hymnal include traditional ‘favourites’ but also features a number of contemporary worship songs, a number of which are the beautiful works of the Iona Community’s Wild Goose Worship Group.

The added bonus with this book is the inclusion of the three-year cycle of Common Worship Lectionary readings, collects and post-communion prayers.

The new book has been extremely well received and it is encouraging to see it being requested by some of our housebound and elderly members, making them feel even more at one with those who come to St. Olaf’s week after week.

I would very much commend this delightful book (containing almost 800 hymns and songs) to congregations thinking of purchasing or acquiring new hymnals.

bulletUSPG – Visit of the Provincial Mission Adviser – Jonathan Elliot-Jones

Early in May we received a visit from Jonathan Elliot-Jones, Provincial Mission Adviser to the Scottish Episcopal Church.

Jonathan preached at the Sunday Eucharist, gently reminding us of our wider responsibilities in mission (something, in the midst of our minor woes, which we often tend to forget…). Later that day, he met with some members in the church hall where he provided an audio-visual presentation of some of his work in India and that carried out by USPG mission partners in South America and Africa.

Being an island congregation, we are not always so readily accessible to visitors such as Jonathan with the result that we can (not merely in a geographic sense) become rather insular and consumed with our own internal affairs.

Jonathan’s visit encouraged us to think on a global scale of how we live the Gospel in serving others and made me, for one, give thanks to God for just how fabulously rich we are living in modern Britain.

It is hoped that as the year progresses, St. Olaf’s might engage with the work of  USPG on a more tangible level.

Anyone seeking further information about the work of USPG – Anglicans in World Mission, should log on to: www.uspg.org.uk

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    bulletAGM: 24th November at 1030 a.m. in the Church Hall. Bishop Bob Gillies, who was consecrated last month, was present, a good turnout of members enjoyed the opportunity to meet him.
  • bulletSeptember 9th: The concert in St Olaf's went well despite the last minute withdrawal of one of the performers through ill health. We were lucky enough to find a local professional who was willing to step in and fill the gap, resulting in what turned out to be a very enjoyable and well-balanced programme. Despite a low turn-out due largely to bad weather, we raised £138, £30 of which has been donated to the local MS Therapy Centre.
    bulletSeptember 1st: Tim successfully participated in a 90 mile cycle ride. Thank you to Tim for raising the magnificent sum of approximately £465 in aid of St. Olaf’s through his sponsored cycle ride around the Applecross Peninsula in Wester Ross on Saturday September 1st, together with many other cyclists.  The charity event was plagued by heavy rain and strong winds, with a number of cyclists sustaining injuries after being blown off their cycles or skidding on cattle grids.  Tim, however, succeeded in completing the course of 90 miles in just over six hours despite experiencing mechanical problems with his bike.
    bulletAugust 25th: The sponsored walk round the Loch of Tankerness, followed by a bring-and-share barbecue lunch, went very well. We were lucky enough to have a clear spell between to periods of new gale force winds to do the walk. Six of us walked, and about a dozen gathered for the barbecue lunch (cooked outside but eaten indoors due to the weather). We raised nearly £400 for the church fund.
    bulletThe Local Collaborative Ministry annual congregation review was held on Wednesday 30th May, with the Dean and the Mission and Ministry Officer.  The members of the congregation reviewed the progress that had been made in the past year, and set the goals for the forthcoming year.
         

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    Last modified: 17/01/2010